How life has changed in Bromsgrove

Bromsgrove's population increased by about 5,800 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 94,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Bromsgrove increased by 6.6%, from just over 87,800 to 93,600.

The addition of about 5,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Bromsgrove was home to, on average, 3.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Bromsgrove

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Bromsgrove increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 13.0% of people in Bromsgrove are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Bromsgrove by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Bromsgrove

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Bromsgrove was among those who said they had no religion, rising 11.0 points.

In 2011, 23.7% of respondents in Bromsgrove gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 12.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 13.3% to 23.5%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Bromsgrove, 74.0% said they were Christian, compared with 86.0% in 2001. About 0.7% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

In Bromsgrove, 6.9% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.8% in 2001. Across the West Midlands, 6.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Bromsgrove increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, West Midlands and Bromsgrove by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Bromsgrove

The percentage of Bromsgrove residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 25 (3.7%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage of Bromsgrove residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 8.7% to 8.3%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (which remained close to 89.0%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 89.8%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Bromsgrove, but at a slower rate than in Redditch (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Bromsgrove).

In Bromsgrove, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.3% in 2001 to 8.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Redditch increased from 4.3% to 11.7%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.2% to 14.0%.

The rate of social housing in Bromsgrove fell from 10.5% to 10.0%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 83.0% to 79.5%.

Private renting in Bromsgrove increased by 4.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Bromsgrove, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Bromsgrove

The percentage of single people in Bromsgrove increased from 23.3% to 26.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.5%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 59.2% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Bromsgrove that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 10.7%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 28.8% in 2001 to 33.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Bromsgrove working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14.7% to 11.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 12.5% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Bromsgrove decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Bromsgrove, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Bromsgrove residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.7% to 4.8% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (82.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.1% in 2001. The percentage of Bromsgrove residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.3% to 12.7%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Bromsgrove decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Bromsgrove, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Bromsgrove residents that were self-employed increased from 10.2% to 11.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.7%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.7% in 2001. The percentage of Bromsgrove residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.1%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.4% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.2% to 9.7%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Bromsgrove, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.6% to 9.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (26.2%) households had only one person, compared with 24.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Bromsgrove which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 45.2% to 40.2%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Bromsgrove

In 2011, 2.1% of Bromsgrove residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.9% in 2001. The 1.1 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 7.6% to 10.8%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 95.8% of people in Bromsgrove said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.9% in 2001. About 1.5% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.8% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.3% to 0.5%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Bromsgrove increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Bromsgrove by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Bromsgrove residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.8%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Bromsgrove remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Bromsgrove by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Bromsgrove with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 10.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.0%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30.2% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Bromsgrove without children increased from 58.9% to 60.3%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10.3% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links